Lesser Sunda eco-region which included in Coral Triangle is the highest biological diversity in the world and habitat for 76% coral reef species and 2,631 aquatic resources. Lesser Sunda is also a migration path of the Cetacean and six sea turtle species from Indian Ocean to Pacific Ocean. The aims of our work in West Nusa Tenggara are to improve conservation of key biodiversity areas in this province through establishment of marine protected areas, improve marine protected area management effectiveness; and develop and implement aquatic resources management plan at three key area in Sumbawa Island.
THREAT
Main threats to biodiversity in this province are degradation of coastal and aquatic resources from unsustainable fishing practices; lack of capacity in managing aquatic resources, including management of marine protected area; lack of public awareness on environmental sustainability.
WHAT WE DO
We started our work in West Nusa Tenggara in 2002. WCS-IP assisted the management authority of Gili Meno, Ayer and Trawangan (Gili Matra) Marine Tourism Park to improve the management effectiveness. In 2013, we expand our working area to West Lombok, Central Lombok, and East Lombok Regencies to assist establishment and management improvement of marine protected areas (MPA). In 2014, we continued to expand to Sumbawa Island to work at 4 regencies to initiate our aquatic resources project. WCS in West Nusa Tenggara have been working to identify the key biodiversity areas for conservation and establishment of MPA; assist local government and stakeholders to improve MPA management effectiveness; aquatic resources monitoring and community engagement to reduce threats to aquatic resources, and develop and implement sustainable aquatic resources management.